Apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a predetermined order during the grinding of the valve seats thereof. The cylinders are clamped to a supporting member which is then rotated so that the cylinders are suspended therefrom. A tank containing an oil or other liquid is then raised so that the valve seats in the cylinders are immersed in the liquid. The valve seats are then ground by a suitable grinding tool. After the valve seats are ground the valves which are supported adjacent to the cylinder from which they were removed are replaced in the cylinders and a valve retaining device is attached to the member supporting the cylinders. The valve retaining device is provided with an adjustable valve engaging means that extends into the cylinders and presses the valves against their seats. The liquid tank is lowered and the cylinder support is turned so that the cylinders are upright. The valve springs are then attached to the exposed portions of the valve stems.

United States Patent Oitedahl July 3, 1973 1 i APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING AND SUPPORTING THE CYLINDERS OF AN 57 ABSTRACT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Lee Oitedahl, San Jose, Calif.

Charles R. Vanderstelt San Jose, Calif.

Filed: Apr. 21, 1971 Appl. No.: 136,042

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1/1929 Krogman 29/215 3/1932 Berzintz..... 29/222 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Attorney-Allen and Chromy An apparatus for supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a predetermined order during the grinding of the valve seats thereof. The cylinders are clamped to a supporting member which is then rotated so that the cylinders are suspended therefrom. A tank containing an oil or other liquid is then raised so that the valve seats in the cylinders are immersed in the liquid. The valve seats are then ground by a suitable grinding tool. After the valve seats are ground the valves which are supported adjacent to the cylinder from which they were removed are replaced in the cylinders and a valve retaining device is attached to the member supporting the cylinders. The valve retaining device is provided with an adjustable valve engaging means that extends into the cylinders and presses the valves against their seats. The liquid tank is lowered and the cylinder support is turned so that the cylinders are upright. The valve springs are then attached to the exposed portions of the valve stems.

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APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING AND SUPPORTING THE CYLINDERS OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general to an apparatus for supporting cylinders of an internal combustion engine during the grinding of the valve seats therein.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine during'the removal of the valves from the cylinders, during the grinding of the valve seats therein and during the assembly of the valves therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus with a rotatable carrier to which the cylinders of an internal combustion engine are clamped in a predetermined order so that the valves may be removed therefrom, said apparatus being provided with a tank containing oil or liquid into which'the valve ends of the cylinders are immersed during the grinding of the valve seats;

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for holding the valve ends of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine immersed in an oil or other liquid during the valve seat grinding operation, said apparatus being'provided with an adjustable device to hold the valves assembled with the cylinders after the grinding operation is completed so that the valve springs may be assembled with the exposed portions of the valve stems and spring retaining means attached thereto.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claimsand drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved apparatus which facilitates the grinding of the valve seats of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. All of the cylinders are removed from the engine and assembled with a cylinder support that is rotatably supported on the frame of this apparatus. The valves which were removed from the cylinders are supported on a panel member so that they are located adjacent to the respective cylinders. The cylinder support is then rotated so that the cylinders are suspended and a tank containing oil or other liquid is elevated under the cylinders and the valve ends of the cylinders are immersed in the liquid provided in the tank. The valve seats of the cylinders are then ground by a special tool provided for this purpose. After the valve seats are ground the liquid contained tank is lowered away from the cylinders and the valves are replaced in the cylinders. The valve retaining-device is then attached to the member supporting the cylinders and valve engaging flanges provided to this device are pressed against the valves to hold them firmly inplace against the valve seats. The support carrying the cylinders is then rotated so that the cylinders are upright and the valve stems project from the tops thereof. The valve springs are then placed on the exposed valve stems and attached thereto by conventional locking devices using a conventional tool provided for this purpose.

Further details and features of this invention will be set forth in the following specification. claims and drawing in which, briefly FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of this apparatus showing the cylinders of an internal combustion also showing the valve ends of the cylinders positioned in a liquid carrying tank;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a conventional valve grinding tool positioned in one of the cylinders;

FIG. 4 is a front view of this apparatus partially broken away showing the valve retaining device positioned above the cylinders;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing several cylinders and also showing the valve retaining device inserted into these cylinders after the valves have been replaced therein; 7

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of this apparatus showing one of the cylinders elevated and positioned so that the valve springs may be attached to the valve stems;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are end views of this apparatus partially broken away showing the liquid carrying tank being raised and lowered; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the tank raising and lowering winch provided to this apparatus.

Referring to the drawing in detail reference numeral l0 designates a frame which is provided with members 11 attached to the sides thereof by welding or the like. An elongated plate 12 is provided with short upright members 12a attached to the ends thereof by welding or the like, and studs 13 are attached by welding or the like to the outer surfaces of these short upright members. The studs 13 are supported by the members 11 and they are held thereon by bearings 14 which are attached to the members 11 by suitable bolts so that the plate 12 which is supported on the members 11 by the studs 13 is rotatable.

The plate 12 is provided with a plurality of holes for receiving the cylinders 15 of an aircraft engine, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cylinders 15 are inverted as shown in FIG. 1 and portions thereof are inserted into the holes in the plate 12 so that the flanges 15a of these cylinders rest on the plate. The elongated clamping members 16 are then placed on the side por-.

tions of the plate 12 so that these clamping members hug the opposite sides of the cylinders 15 and engage the upper surfaces of the flanges 15a. Clamping members 16 are provided with a plurality of recesses 18 for receiving the bolts 17 which are attached to the plate 12. The bolts 17 are provided with wing nuts to clamp the members 16 against the flanges 15a of the cylinders and hold the cylinders clamped to the plate 12 when this plate is inverted as shown in FIG. 2.

The frame 10 is also provided with a member 19 which is attached thereto by welding or the like, for supporting the locking member 20. Locking member 20 is rotatable with respect to its support 19 and it is also provided with a notch 21 for engaging an end portion of the plate 12 to hold this plate in horizontal position while the cylinders 15 are being attached to the plate and clamped thereto by the members 16. After the cylinders 15 are clamped to the plate 12 the locking member 20 is rotated on its support 19 so that the notch 21 is disengaged from the plate 12. The plate 12 and the cylinders 15 attached thereto are then rotated to the position shown in'FIGS. 2 and 4 in which position the cylinders 15 are suspended from the plate 12.

The locking member 20 is then rotated so that the notch 21 thereof engages an end portion of the plate 12 and prevents it from turning.

After the cylinders 15 are attached to the plate 12 and held thereon by the members 16 the plate 12 and carriage are moved to the front of the frame and then the tank is raised from the carriage as shown in FIG. 9. When the tank is lowered it is received by the carriage and then moved down the inclined rails 22a as shown in FIG. 10.

Crank 23 is fixedly attached to one end of the rod 24, as shown in FIG. 11, which is supported in suitable bearings on the frame 10. Two cables 25 are provided for lifting the tank 22, one of the cables is attached to one end of the tank and the other is attached to the other end as shown in FIG. 2. Cables 25 pass over the sheaves 26 which are rotatably supported on the frame 10 and are then wound on the rod 24 when the tank is to be raised. The rod 24 is provided with a ratchet 27 which engages the pawl 28 that is pivotally attached to the frame and this pawl and ratchet mechanism prevents the rod 24 from rotating when the tank is in its raised position. When the pawl 28 is released from the ratchet the tank may be lowered.

- Each of the cylinders 15 is provided with two valve seats 15b and 150 as shown in FIG. 3, and these valve seats are ground by a conventional tool such as the tool shown in FIG. 3 which is provided with a motor 29 and a grinding wheel 30 that is rotated by the motor. The valve seats 15b and 150 are immersed in the liquid supplied in the tank 22 while they are ground by the grinding wheel 30.

After the valve seats are ground the valves 15d and 152, which are supported on the member 10b attached to the frame 10, are replaced in the cylinders so that they are lodged on the seats 15b and 150, respectively. The valves 15d and le of each cylinder are located on the member b adjacent to the cylinder from which they were removed so that these valves are not mixed. Thus the valves are replaced in the cylinders from which they were removed prior to the grinding of the valve seats.

After the valve seats are ground the valves are placed into the cylinders and they are held in place by the member 31 which is provided with a plurality of rods 32. Rods 32 are threaded into nuts 33 which are attached by welding or the like to the member 31. Member 31 is provided with as many rods 32 as there are cylinders supported on the plate 12. Each of the rods I 32 is provided with a flange 35 attached to the bottom end thereof and this flange is big enough to engage the valves 15d and 15e squarely so that the valves are held firmly against the valve seats when the member 31 is assembled with the plate 12 and the rods 32 are positioned in the various cylinders. Each of the rods 32 is provided with a handle 34 so that the rod maybe turned thereby and the flange thereof pressed against the valves. In order that proper pressure may be exerted on the valves, the member '31 is attached to the plate 12 by a plurality of screws 36 which are threaded into the plate 12 and which engage the member 31 in recesses 37.

After the valves are pressed firmly against the valve seats of the cylinders, the locking member 20 is disengaged from the plate 12. Plate 12 is then rotated so that the cylinders are in upright position as shown in FIG. 6. The valve stems of the valves positioned in the different cylinders now project upward and they extend out of the cylinders so that the valve springs 15f and 15g may be placed thereon by using the spring depressing tool 38. This tool is provided with a pair of feet 39 which are adapted to engage the washer placed on the spring when the tool is hooked under the rod 40 that is supported by the projections 41. The spring is depressed when pressure is applied to the handle of the tool and a conventional locking member is placed in a groove formed on the valve stem. After the valve springs are placed on all of the valve stems and locked into place the locking member 20, which holds the plate 12 in horizontal position with the cylinders upright, is released from the'plate 12. Plate 12 and'the cylinders attached thereto are again rotated so that the cylinders extend below the plate and the valve holding member 31 is removed from the plate 12 by rotating the rods 32 so the pressure of the flange members 35 on the valve is released. Plate 12 and the cylinders attached thereto are rotated to bring the cylinders upright as shown in FIG. 1 and locking member 20 is engaged with the plate 12 to hold the plate and cylinders in this position. The cylinders are then removed from the plate by first loosening the thumb nuts 17 so that the clamping members 16 may be removed from the plate 12. The cylinders are then free and may be lifted off of the plate 12.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention can be varied and modified from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine during the servicing of the valves thereof, the combination of a frame, a cylinder supporting member, means pivotally supporting said member on said frame, said member having holes receiving the cylinders disassembled from an engine, means engaging the outsides of said cylinders on opposite sides thereof for clamping said cylinders to said member, said member being adapted to rotate on said pivotal supporting means to a selected position in which said cylinders are suspended therefrom, means locking said member in said selected position, a liquid containing tank, means on the lower part of said frame supporting said tank, means lifting said tank under said cylinders when said cylinders are suspended from said member so that the valve ends of said cylinders are immersed in the liquid in said tank while the valve seats of said cylinders are ground.

2. In apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising threaded rods inserted into said cylinders, a bar, means detachably attaching said bar to said member, said bar having means supporting said threaded rods thereon, said rods having means holding the valves in said cylinders after said valve seats have been ground and while the valve springs are being applied to the stems of said valves.

3. ln apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means lifting said tank under said cylinders comprises a winch having cables attached to the ends of said tank, a handle for rotating said winch manually to raise said tank and 

1. In apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine during the servicing of the valves thereof, the combination of a frame, a cylinder supporting member, means pivotally supporting said member on said frame, said member having holes receiving the cylinders disassembled from an engine, means engaging the outsides of said cylinders on opposite sides thereof for clamping said cylinders to said member, said member being adapted to rotate on said pivotal supporting means to a selected position in which said cylinders are suspended therefrom, means locking said member in said selected position, a liquid containing tank, means on the lower part of said frame supporting said tank, means lifting said tank under said cylinders when said cylinders are suspended from said member so that the valve ends of said cylinders are immersed in the liquid in said tank while the valve seats of said cylinders are ground.
 2. In apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising threaded rods inserted into said cylinders, a bar, means detachably attaching said bar to said member, said bar having means supporting said threaded rods thereon, said rods having means holding the valves in said cylinders after said valve seats have been ground and while the valve springs are being applied to the stems of said valves.
 3. In apparatus for orienting and supporting the cylinders of an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means lifting said tank under said cylinders comprises a winch having cables attached to the ends of said tank, a handle for rotating said winch manually to raise said tank and immerse parts of said cylinders in the liquid in said tank, said winch comprising a rotatable rod supported by said frame, means attaching said handle to one end of said rod and means preventing said rod from rotating when said cables are wound thereon and said tank is in raised position. 